Support component, tray component, and refrigeration appliance

ABSTRACT

A support component for a tray component of a refrigeration appliance includes an outer frame, an inner frame, and a reinforcing member. The outer frame has a first open end, the first open end is configured for inserting at least one part of the reinforcing member into the outer frame. The inner frame is connected to the outer frame and at least one part of the reinforcing member is located between the inner frame and the outer frame. The support component with such a structure reduces the probability that the partial structure of a frame is damaged due to the compression of a reinforcing member. The tray component and the refrigeration appliance having the support component have a high product yield and are not likely to fall apart.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Chinese Patent Application CN 202120638793.5, filed Mar. 29, 2021; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of household appliance technologies, and in particular, to a support component, a tray component, and a refrigeration appliance.

A tray component in an existing refrigeration appliance generally includes a support component and a separation plate connected to a support. In order to satisfy both the shape requirement and the intensity requirement of the support component, the support component includes a reinforcing member with relatively high intensity and a frame with stronger shaping capabilities. In some assembly solutions of the support component that need an interference fit or have a relatively small tolerance, the reinforcing member may damage the partial structure of the frame and make the support component run a risk of falling apart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved support component. During assembly of the support component, the probability that the partial structure of a frame is damaged due to the compression of a reinforcing member is reduced.

According to an aspect, the embodiments of the invention provide a tray component. The tray component includes the foregoing improved support component. The tray component has a high production yield and a low probability of falling apart.

According to an aspect, the embodiments of the invention provide a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance includes the foregoing tray component. The refrigeration appliance has a high production yield and a low probability that a tray or a support falls apart.

A support component is provided, including an outer frame, an inner frame, and a reinforcing member, characterized in that, the outer frame has a first open end, the first open end is configured for inserting at least one part of the reinforcing member into the outer frame, the inner frame is connected to the outer frame, and at least one part of the reinforcing member is located between the inner frame and the outer frame.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame includes a clamping portion, the inner frame includes a clamp-fitting portion adapted to the clamping portion, and the inner frame is engaged with the outer frame through the clamping portion and the clamp-fitting portion.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame further includes a first side wall, and at least one part of the reinforcing member is located between the clamping portion and the first side wall.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame further includes a first bottom wall and/or a first top wall. The clamping portion includes a protrusion located on the first top wall and/or the first bottom wall. The clamp-fitting portion includes a flange extending downward and/or upward. Thee outer frame and/or the inner frame are configured to have deformability, to deform under the action of an external force to cause the flange to cross over the protrusion, and the protrusion clamps the flange between the protrusion and the reinforcing member after the external force is removed.

In a possible implementation, the reinforcing member is inserted between the first side wall and the clamping portion from the first open end.

In a possible implementation, the inner frame includes a second side wall facing the reinforcing member. A first protruding rib extending toward the reinforcing member is disposed on the second side wall, and the first protruding rib abuts against the reinforcing member.

In a possible implementation, the inner frame includes a second bottom wall, the outer frame includes a first bottom wall, a second protruding rib extending toward the first bottom wall is disposed on the second bottom wall, and the second protruding rib abuts against the first bottom wall.

In a possible implementation, an extension direction of the second protruding rib is consistent with a direction in which the inner frame is connected to the outer frame.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame includes a second open end, and the second open end is configured for inserting at least one part of the inner frame into the outer frame.

A tray component is provided, including a separation plate, and further including two of any one or two types of the foregoing support components, where two sides of the separation plate are respectively connected to inner frames and/or outer frames of the support components.

A refrigeration appliance is provided, including any one or more of the foregoing tray components, where the separation plate is configured to separate at least one storage cavity of the refrigeration appliance, the reinforcing member includes a connecting portion extending out of the outer frame and the inner frame, and the connecting portion is connected to a box body of the refrigeration appliance.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a support component, a tray component, and a refrigeration appliance, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a support component according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the support component according to an embodiment of the present invention, where a reinforcing member has been inserted into an outer frame from a first open end;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the support component according to an embodiment of the present invention, where an outer frame is not shown;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tray component according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technical solutions in this application are clearly and completely described below using specific embodiments. Apparently, the described embodiments are some rather than all of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this application.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a support component 100. The support component 100 may be applied to a household appliance. Exemplarily, the support component 100 may be applied to a tray component 200 of a refrigeration appliance 300, see FIG. 5.

In an existing refrigeration appliance, in order to improve the utilization efficiency of an internal storage cavity 18, the tray component 200 mounted in the storage cavity 18 is usually used to divide the storage cavity 18 into a plurality of small spaces in a horizontal or vertical direction. In some related art, a separation plate 17 in the tray component 200 is made of a difficult-to-shape material such as glass. It is difficult for the separation plate 17 to directly connect to a wall of the storage cavity 18, and therefore the support component 100 is needed. For example, the separation plate 17 is connected to a support, and the support is connected to the wall of the storage cavity 18.

The tray component 200 needs to bear certain weight and include some shape structures that can be connected to the separation plate 17. Therefore, the support component 100 needs to have both certain intensity and certain shapeability.

The support component 100 provided in this embodiment of the present invention includes a reinforcing member 3 and frames, see FIG. 2. Exemplarily, the reinforcing member 3 may be made of a material with relatively high intensity, such as metal, to provide adequate intensity for the support component 100. The frames may be made of a material with relatively good shapeability, such as plastic, to be easily set in a shape capable of fitting in well with the separation plate 17.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the support component 100 may include an outer frame 1, an inner frame 2, and a reinforcing member 3. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic structural diagram of the support component 100. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along a line II. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic structural exploded views of the support component 100.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame 1 has a first open end 4, and at least one part of the reinforcing member 3 may be inserted into the outer frame 1 from the first open end 4. The outer frame 1 is connected to the inner frame 2, and the one part of the reinforcing member 3 inserted into the outer frame 1 is located between the inner frame 2 and the outer frame 1. Compared with the related art in which the reinforcing member 3 crosses over a frame connection structure to enter an outer frame 1, this implementation in which the reinforcing member is inserted into the outer frame 1 from the open end reduces the probability of damaging a frame connection structure and improves the product yield.

In a possible implementation, the frame connection structure includes a clamping portion 5 and a clamp-fitting portion 6, the clamping portion 5 is located on the outer frame 1, the clamp-fitting portion 6 is located on the inner frame 2, and the clamping portion 5 and the clamp-fitting portion 6 are adapted to each other to engage the inner frame 2 with the outer frame 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, after being inserted into the outer frame 1, the reinforcing member 3 is located between the clamping portion 5 and a first side wall 7. In this way, the probability that the reinforcing member 3 touches or compresses the clamping portion 5 can be reduced, thereby reducing the probability of damaging the clamping portion 5.

In a preferable manner, the reinforcing member 3 is inserted between the first side wall 7 and the clamping portion 5 from the first open end 4, further reducing the probability that the reinforcing member 3 touches or compresses the clamping portion 5.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the outer frame 1 includes a first bottom wall 8, a first top wall 9, and the first side wall 7 connected to an outer edge between the first bottom wall 8 and the first top wall. An end of the outer frame 1 in a length direction has an open region, and the first open end 4 includes the open region. A side on the outer frame 1 opposite to the first side wall 7 also has another open region, and a second open end 16 includes the open region.

In a possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 2, the clamping portion 5 includes a protrusion 10 located on the first bottom wall and protruding from the first bottom wall 8.

The clamp-fitting portion 6 includes a flange 11 located on the inner frame 2 and extending upward. The inner frame 2 and/or the outer frame 1 may partially deform under the action of a force to allow the flange 11 to cross over the protrusion 10, and return to an original shape due to loss of the force after the flange 11 crosses over the protrusion 10, so that the flange 11 can be located between the protrusion 10 and the reinforcing member 3. Such a clamping structure is very simple and easy-to-implement. Since the probability that the reinforcing member 3 touches or compresses the connection structure is reduced, the intensity requirements for the clamping portion 5 and/or the clamp-fitting portion 6 may be appropriately reduced. Therefore, the costs and manufacture difficulty are reduced.

In a possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 3, the clamping portion 5 includes a protrusion 10 located on the first bottom wall 8 and protruding from the first bottom wall 8.

The clamp-fitting portion 6 includes a flange 11 located on the inner frame 2 and extending downward. The inner frame 2 and/or the outer frame 1 may partially deform under the action of a force to allow the flange 11 to cross over the protrusion 10, and return to an original shape due to loss of the force after the flange 11 crosses over the protrusion 10, so that the flange 11 can be located between the protrusion 10 and the reinforcing member 3.

Understandably, the inner frame 2 and/or the outer frame 1 may be made of a material with certain deformability to enable the inner frame 2 and/or the outer frame 1 to partially deform. For example, the material may be plastic. The inner frame 2 and/or the outer frame 1 may be completely made of a deformable material, or may be partially made of the deformable material. As long as the foregoing process can be implemented, the objective of this embodiment can be achieved.

In a possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inner frame 2 has a second side wall 12 facing the reinforcing member 3. After the inner frame 2 and the outer frame 1 are connected, the reinforcing member 3 is located between the second side wall 12 and the first side wall 7. With such configuration, the contact area between the reinforcing member 3 and the outer frame 1 as well as the inner frame 2 is increased, which helps to reduce the relative wobbling between the reinforcing member 3 and the frames, and makes such a product as the tray component 200 or the refrigeration appliance 300 using the support component 100 more stable.

In a possible implementation, the flange 11 may extend upward from an upper edge of the second side wall 12 and/or extend downward from a lower edge of the second side wall 12. Alternatively, the flange 11 may be a part of the second side wall 12.

In a possible implementation, a side of the second side wall 12 facing the reinforcing member 3 is provided with a first reinforcing rib. After the support component 100 is assembled, the first reinforcing rib at least partially abuts against the reinforcing member 3. In an aspect, contact between the inner frame 2 and the reinforcing member 3 is ensured, thereby reducing the probability of wobbling of the reinforcing member 3. In another aspect, surface contact between the inner frame 2 and the reinforcing member 3 is replaced with line contact, which avoids partial hollowing between the second side wall 12 and the reinforcing member 3 after extensive contact.

In a possible implementation, the inner frame 2 further includes a second bottom wall connected to the second side wall 12. After the support component 100 is assembled, the second bottom wall is at least partially in contact with the first bottom wall 8.

In a possible implementation, a side of the first bottom wall 8 facing the first top wall 9 is provided with a second protruding rib 15, and the second protruding rib 15 at least partially abuts against the first bottom wall 8. With such configuration, partial hollowing between the second bottom wall and the first bottom wall 8 after extensive contact is avoided.

In a possible implementation, an extension direction of the second protruding rib 15 is consistent with a direction in which the inner frame 2 is connected to the outer frame 1. With such configuration, resistance of inserting the inner frame 2 into the outer frame 1 can be reduced, thereby better facilitating mounting.

In a possible implementation, the outer frame 1 at least partially enters the inner frame 2 from the second open end 16, and after crossing over the protrusion 10, the flange 11 clamps the inner frame 2 onto the outer frame 1.

A connecting portion 19 is further disposed on the reinforcing member 3. As shown in the figure, the connecting portion 19 is located out of the outer frame 1 and the inner frame 2 for ease of connection to another component.

The concept of the present utility model is illustrated with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4:

An end portion of the reinforcing member 3 is inserted into the outer frame 1 from the first open end 4 at an end portion of the outer frame 1 in an x direction. After the reinforcing member reaches a predetermined position, the inner frame 2 is inserted into the outer frame 1 from the second open end 16 in a y direction, and at least one part of the reinforcing member 3 is located between the inner frame 2 and the outer frame 1. Since the reinforcing member 3 is inserted from the end portion, the probability of touching or compressing the connection structure between the inner frame 2 and the outer frame 1 is reduced. Therefore, the inner frame 2 and the outer frame 1 can fit in well with each other, thereby reducing the probability that the support falls apart.

An embodiment of the present utility model further provides a tray component 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the tray component 200 may include two of any one or two types of the foregoing support components 100 disposed opposite to each other. An inner frame 2 is located on an inner side, and an outer frame 1 is located on an outer side.

The tray component 200 further includes a separation plate 17, and two ends of the separation plate 17 are each connected to one support component 100. It may be understood that the separation plate 17 may be connected to the inner frame 2, or may be connected to the outer frame 1.

The tray component 200 provided in this embodiment of the present invention has a high production yield and a low probability of falling apart. An embodiment of the present invention further provides a refrigeration appliance 300. As shown in FIG. 6, the refrigeration appliance 300 includes a storage cavity 18 and any one or more types of the foregoing tray components 200 mounted in the storage cavity 18. Exemplarily, a connecting portion 19 of a support component 100 located out of an inner frame 2 and an outer frame 1 is connected to a box body of the refrigeration appliance 300.

The refrigeration appliance 300 provided in this embodiment of the present invention has a high production yield and a low probability that the internal structure falls apart.

Although specific implementations have been described above, these implementations are not intended to limit the scope disclosed in this application, even if only one implementation is described with respect to a specific feature. The feature examples provided in this application are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, unless otherwise stated. During specific implementation, according to an actual requirement, in a technically feasible case, the technical features of one or more dependent claims may be combined with the technical features of the independent claims, and the technical features from the corresponding independent claims may be combined in any appropriate way instead of using just specific combinations listed in the claims.

The various specific implementations described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate this application, but are not all of this application. Any variation made by a person of ordinary skill in the art to this application within the scope of the basic technical concept of this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. 

1. A support component, comprising: an inner frame; a reinforcing member; and an outer frame having a first open end, said first open end configured for inserting at least one part of said reinforcing member into said outer frame, said inner frame connected to said outer frame, and at least one part of said reinforcing member is disposed between said inner frame and said outer frame.
 2. The support component according to claim 1, wherein: said outer frame has a clamping portion; and said inner frame has a clamp-fitting portion adapted to said clamping portion, and said inner frame is engaged with said outer frame through said clamping portion and said clamp-fitting portion.
 3. The support component according to claim 2, wherein said outer frame further contains a first side wall, and at least one part of said reinforcing member is disposed between said clamping portion and said first side wall.
 4. The support component according to claim 2, wherein: said outer frame further contains a first bottom wall and/or a first top wall; said clamping portion contains a protrusion disposed on said first top wall and/or said first bottom wall; said clamp-fitting portion has a flange extending downward and/or upward; and said outer frame and/or said inner frame are configured to have deformability, to deform under an action of an external force to cause said flange to cross over said protrusion, and said protrusion clamps said flange between said protrusion and said reinforcing member after the external force is removed.
 5. The support component according to claim 3, wherein said reinforcing member is inserted between said first side wall and said clamping portion from said first open end.
 6. The support component according to claim 1, wherein said inner frame has a second side wall facing said reinforcing member, a first protruding rib extending toward said reinforcing member and disposed on said second side wall, and said first protruding rib abuts against said reinforcing member.
 7. The support component according to claim 6, wherein: said inner frame has a second bottom wall; and said outer frame contains a first bottom wall, a second protruding rib extending toward said first bottom wall and disposed on said second bottom wall, and said second protruding rib abuts against said first bottom wall.
 8. The support component according to claim 7, wherein an extension direction of said second protruding rib is consistent with a direction in which said inner frame is connected to said outer frame.
 9. The support component according to claim 4, wherein said outer frame has a second open end and said second open end is configured for inserting at least one part of said inner frame into said outer frame.
 10. A tray component, comprising: two said support components according to claim 1; and a separation plate having two sides that are respectively connected to said inner frames and/or said outer frames of said two support components.
 11. A refrigeration appliance, comprising: a box body having at least one storage cavity; and said tray component according to claim 10, wherein said separation plate is configured to separate said at least one storage cavity of the refrigeration appliance, said reinforcing member having a connecting portion extending out of said outer frame and said inner frame, and said connecting portion is connected to said box body of the refrigeration appliance. 